North Gosforth Chapel (ruins)

North Gosforth Chapel is an example of a medieval chapel which also contains earlier Roman material. In addition the monument contains a number of well- preserved medieval gravestones.

The monument includes the remains of North Gosforth Chapel situated in an open space on the south side of Kingsley Avenue. The open space is surrounded by a modern road and residential properties. The chapel is Listed Grade II*. Little survives of the chapel above ground but the visible remains include the nave and chancel foundations and a number of gravestones.

The remains of the nave and chancel stand to a height of one course above a plinth course. The nave and chancel have a total length of 20.5m. The nave is 7m wide and has two west walls, one representing a shortening of the nave by 3m. Only the plinth course of the nave wall is visible to the west of the inner west wall. The nave has a doorway in its south wall. Part of the north wall of the nave has been rebuilt, as evidenced by the lack of the plinth course. The north nave wall tapers inwards at the chancel end. Within the nave are a four column pedestal, a stone trough and a stone slab.

The chapel contains reused Roman material and at one time contained a Roman altar stone. The chancel is 6m wide and has slightly narrower walls than the nave. There is a doorway in the north wall.

Externally there are a number of graves. Two gravestones, one plain and one with a sword motif, are situated by the south doorway of the nave. Another group of graves is found to the east of the chancel, which include dated graves from the 17th century and two medieval gravestones, one marked with a cross and the other with the lower portion of a sword and spade.

The earliest reference to the chapel is in 1256 when it was used as a place of sanctuary. The Surtees family were patrons of the church in the 14th century. The last minister of North Gosforth Chapel is recorded in 1604. It was used for burial in the 18th century. The first edition Ordnance Survey 1:2500 map depicts the chapel in an oval enclosure 60m by 40m.